"It was not a place to debate charter schools," Jennings said. "It was a place to debate finances. The vote deprived our taxpayers in the city of $600,000 that we could have used for economic development for the challenges we face financially and for youth programs."

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By a 4-3 vote, the Capital Resource Corporation -- charged with helping promote development and create jobs -- refused on Thursday to provide access to up to $42 million in tax-free financing to the Charter Facilities Finance Fund, affiliated with the Brighter Choice Foundation, for two of its projects. Brighter Choice is the largest builder of charter schools in Albany.

Supporters of the city school district urged board members -- all seven of whom are appointed by the Common Council -- to turn away from construction of more charter schools they claim drain resources from the city district.

Jennings initially sounded off on those who opposed the funding on Talk1300 radio while discussing the matter with host Paul Vandenburgh before the mayor did his regular show.

After he finished his broadcast, Jennings told the Times Union, "If they can't be objective about these projects and the value of a financial point of view and keep it in that arena, they shouldn't be there. They shouldn't let their personal feelings, or opinions, in this instance charter schools and public schools, dictate how to vote. They should look at what projects to finance and objectively vote on it."

Later Friday, McLaughlin agreed. The action by the Capital Resource Corporation was "not in best interest of the city nor the kids who attend charter schools," she said.

"The Brighter Choice Foundation met the criteria to come before the CRC, and the decision should have been made based on that and not whether you are a supporter of charter schools or a supporter of public schools," the council president said. "Charter schools are public schools and I hate to differentiate between them."

Charter schools, whether run by Brighter Choice or another corporation, "are in our city and are here to stay," McLaughlin said. Instead of the argument that charter schools are draining taxpayers, "our fight should be with the state to fund charter schools ... and until the time the funding mechanism changes, we have to learn to co-exist."

"It's another form of education for all of our children," she said, adding almost 20 percent of students in Albany attend charter schools. "Why should we not want to ensure that we have facilities that meet the highest standards."

The CRC could have collected as much as $262,500 in fees associated with the deal and used the money for economic and community development elsewhere.

Brighter Choice Executive Director Christian Bender said his organization would look elsewhere to finance the project. He pointed out the board of the CRC turned down more than $600,000, which included mortgage tax and bonding fees.

The city is facing a $20 million deficit and the CRC "is in no position to be turning away money," McLaughlin said. "I just think it was a lot of politics and not the merits of the application."